Screen



March 3, 1931. A, HEATH 1,794,956

SCREEN Filed NOV. 23, 1929 l y @Me wwmz Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT HEATH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SCREEN Application filed November 23, 1929. Serial No. 409,321.

This invention relates to screens, such as screen doors, window screens, and the like, and has among its other objects the provision of mesh-securing devices that are durable,

efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

In screens embodying my invention, the mesh is firmly secured to its frame by fillers, moldings, or strips that interlock with the w frame in such manner that relatively few nails, or the equivalent, are necessary to secure them thereto.

Several forms of the invention are embodied in screens having fillers, moldings or strips which comprise wedges or tongues that project laterally therefrom in planes parallel to the mesh of the screen, the wedges or tongues being arranged to clamp the marginal portions of the mesh in grooves or against undercut surfaces of the frame.

Many other objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a screen which embodies the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one corner of the screen door shown in Fig. 1, the frame members being shown disengaged from each other to illustrate the invention clearly Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section through the screen embodying another form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section through a screen embodying still another formof the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of the invention, the reference character 1() designates, in general, a screen door which comprises vertical frame members `11, 12 and 13 45 and horizontal frame members 14, 15 and 16. Each of the frame members is preferably provided with a rabbet 18, as best shown in Fig. 2, the rabbet 18 being adapted to receive and hold a marginal edge of one of a ,50 plurality of pieces of mesh that are secured to the frame members. The mesh is identified by the reference character 20.

The inner end of the rabbet 18 is preferably provided with a groove 21 formed'by an undercut surface 22 provided upon the frame member. The bottom surface of the rabbet 18 is preferably provided with a relatively deep groove 24 which is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section. A relatively shallow groove 25 is preferably provided in that part of the bottom surface of the rabbet 18 which is disposed between the groove 24 and the inner end or edge of the frame member.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the marginal edge of the associated mesh 2O is clamped in the grooves 25, 24 and 21 and is clamped against the under surface 22 by a filler, molding or strip 27 which preferably comprises a laterally projecting wedge or tongue 28 having an inclined surface 29 which extends substantially parallel to the undercut surface 22 and clamps an edge of the mesh 20 against that surface. The strip 27 is preferably secured to the frame member by a plurality of nails 30, or the equivalent. A tongue 24a projecting from the strip 27 clamps the mesh in the groove 24, the tongue 24a having an inclined surface 24?) which causes the tongue to function as a wedge when it is being inserted into thegroove. The inclined surface 24o insures that the tongue 28 will be driven into the groove 21 and at the same time insures that the strips can be assembled quickly and easily with the frame members. y It is readily understood that the strip 27 can not be displaced in a direction directly away from the plane of the body portion of the mesh 20 as the undercut surface 22 prevents such displacement. Obviously, this construction makes it unnecessary to use a relatively large number of nails 30, or the equivalent, to secure the strip 27 to the frame members and also insures that the mesh will be firmly secured to the frame members.

In practice, it is advantageous to employ a suitable tool, such as a roller (not shown), or the equivalent, to form the marginal portions of each mesh 20 into the shape substantially like that they will assume when clamped I between the strips and the frame members;

then the strips may be quickly and easily assembled with the frame members after the marginalportions of the mesh have been disposed correctly inthe rabbet 18. An advantage of this construction is that after the strips 27 have been assembled with the frameV members they will remain in place until vthe nails 30 have been driven through the strips and frame members.

Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of the corners or joints of the screen door, shown in Fig. 1. It willbe noted that the vertically disposed frame member 11 is provided with a slot which accommodatiesl a tongue 36'v formed on the end of the frame member 14, and that the strips 27 are beveled to form a neat and-perfect joint at the corners.

In Fig. 4 another form of the invention is illustrated in connection with a frame member having a rabbet 41 which has. a plural- -ityof grooves 42 yand 43 formed in its rear surface 44. The bottom surface of the-rabbe't 41 is preferably provided with a groove 45 of substantially rectangular cross-section and agroove 46 which is preferably substantially triangular in cross-section. A mesh 48 has a marginaledge clamped in the grooves 42, 43, 45 and 46 provided in the rabbet 41, the clamping means comprising a filler, molding or strip 50 which has laterally projecting wedges 51 and 52 arranged to project into the grooves 42 and 43respectively. Also pro'- vided upon thestrip 50 are tongues 54 and 55 whichvproject into the grooves 45 and 46, respectively, and are preferably formed with similar cross-sections. j

It will be noted that the strip; 50 resembles i the strips 27, shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,

but that itdiffers from the strips 27 in thatY it ,is-providedY with a plurality of undercut surfaces corresponding to the undercut surfaces 22 and that a wedge'shapedV tongue 25 vis provided to enterthe groove 46k instead of the relatively small tongue provided upon the strips 27 to enter the relatively shallow groove 25 formed in the frame members 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. T he strip 50is secured to the frame member 40 by nails, or the equivalent. f v* Still another form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the reference character' 60 designates a frame member which forms part of a screen door, window screen, orthe like, and is preferably provided with a rabbet 61 to receive a marginal portion of amesh 62. The rear surface ofthe rabbet 61 is preferably inclined or undercut, as at 65,

and is preferably provided with a relatively deep-groove 66. The bottom surface 67 of `the rabbet 61 is preferably` provided with a relatively deep groove '68 of rectangular cross-section', and that part of the bottom surfa'ce'67 which lies between they groove-68 and the inner 'edge of the frame 60 is preferably 78 projecting-from the bottom surface of the strip 72 projects into the groove 68. The bot- :tom surface of the strip 72 is preferably corrugated to match the corrugated surface 70 provided up'o'n'the yframe member 60. Of course, the strip 72 is preferably secured to the frame member 60 by suitable nails, or the equivalent.

, The `frame members and the strips may be formed from wood, metal, or any other suitable material, it being readily understood that the frame members could be formed from sheet metal in such manner that the necessary grooves and tongues'were provided. As set forth above, the laterally projectingtongues provided upon the strips prevent relative displacement between the strips and frame members in aV direction substantially normal to the plane of the body portion of the'mesh and substantially normal tothe plane in which the mesh enters between the frame members and the strips. The grooves 24, 4,5 and 68and the respective tongues that enga-ge these grooves' prevent relative displacement of the'strips and'frame members in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the body portion of the mesh, the

V,last mentioned grooves and tongues co-operating with the laterally projecting grooves on the strips so that the strips must be inserted substantially diagonally into the rabbets. vThe result is that the .marginal portions of themesh are clamped so tightly betweenv the strips andthe frame members so thatr the mesh will tear before sufficient tension can be placed upon it to vdraw its marginal portOi-ons from between the stripsv and frame memers.

llVhile l have illustrated and described certain particular embodimentsof my invention, 1 do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it theretoas the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms without `departing from the spirit of my invention.

Whatl regard as-new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2.

1. The combination with a frame member for a screen, said frame member 'having a rabbet formed therein providedwithl a plurality of undercut surfaces,fofa strip for clamping al marginal portion of a mesh in said rabbet and 'provided'with tongues 'cooperating with said undercut surfacesto prevent relative displacement of the 'strip and the frame member.

2. The combination with a frame member for a screen, said frame member having a rabbet formed therein provided with aA grooved undercut surface, of a mesh having a marginal portion engaging said undercut surface, a strip for clamping a marginal portion of said mesh in said rabbet and provided with an inclined surface having a tongue cooperating with said groove for preventing relative displacement of said strip and said frame member in a direction normal to the plane of the screen.

3. The combination with a frame member for a screen, said frame member having a rabbet with an Vundercut plane surface extending the entire depth of the rabbet, of a strip for clamping a marginal portion of a mesh in said rabbet and provided with an inclined surface cooperating withsaid undercut surface to prevent relative displacement of said strip and said frame in a direction normal to the plane of the screen.

1l. A screen comprising a frame member having a rabbet formed on an inner edge thereof, one surface of the rabbet lying gen-V erally in the plane of the screen and being provided with a shallow groove and a deep groove cut therein, a second surface of said rabbet having an undercut portion, and a strip for securing a marginal portion of a screen in said rabbet, said strip having short and long tongues for engaging the shallow and deep grooves, respectively, provided in the first mentioned surface of said rabbet, said strip having a surface projecting into the undercut portion of said second surface of said rabbet.

5. A screen comprising a frame member having a rabbet formed on an inner edge thereof, one surface of the rabbet lying generally in the plane of the screen and being provided with a shallow groove and a deep groove cut therein, a mesh having a marginal portion extending into said grooves, and a strip for securing said marginal portion of said mesh in said rabbet, said strip having short and long tongues projecting into the shallow and deep grooves, respectively, provided in said surface of said rabbet.

6. A screen comprising a mesh, a frame having a rabbet extending around the inner edge thereof, said rabbet having a groove surface and an undercut surface, both of said surfaces being engaged by the marginal portions of the mesh, and strips clamping said marginal portions in said rabbet, said strips being each provided with a tongue engageable with said groove and said strips being each provided with a surface conforming to the shape of said undercut surface.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 13th day of November, 1929.

ALBERT HEATH. 

